Building construction for floors and ceilings.



No.' 646,502. Patented Apr. 3, I900.

T. OSHEA. I N BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FOB FLOORS AND GEILINGS.

(Application filed. Ml-1y 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

No. 646,502. Patented Apr. 3, I900.

T. OSHEA.

BUILDING (IQNSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND CEILINGS.

(Application filed May 12. 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n4: NORRIS PETERS cu, PHOTO-LITHO., WASNKNGTON. n, c.

'a specification.

' NITEI) STATES PATENT Fines.

TIMOTHY OSI-IEA, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,502, dated April 3,1900.

Application filed May l2 1899- Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Building Construction for Floors and Ceilings, ofwhich the following is My invention relates to certain improvements 1nfioors and ceilings designed to produce a complete floor and ceilingfirmly secured together, absolutely fireproof, and capable of sustainingthe greatest possible load consistent with its weightand cost ofconstruction.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel combinations whichutilize the materials to the best possible advantage, both as tostrength and as to resistance to the progressof fire. These will bedescribed in detail in their preferred forms, and the essential featurespointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated by means of six figures, of which Figure 1is a sectional perspective of a portion of a floor and ceiling and partof the connecting devices. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective of theframework which supports the floor and ceiling and is itself carried bythe beams of the building. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section ofone of the spans between the fioor-beams, showing one of the trusses inside elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of three of thetrusses, showing in side elevation the bridging for bracing the trusses.Fig. 5 is a top plan of three of the trusses and the bridging betweenthe same broken away at the right to show the lower members of thetrusses, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the adjacent ends of two ofthe lower members of the trusses.

Referring to the figures, A represents a series of floor-beams carriedby a suitable frameworkin the ordinarymanner, and B represents a seriesof trusses supported upon and embracing the floor-beams. The floor-beamsare preferably what are known as I-beams, and the trusses are preferablycomposed of two bars I) b, the upper, I), being a T-iron having itsvertical flange resting upon the top of the I-beam and the lower, I),being a flat bar or web and extending just beneath Serial No. 716,505.jute model.)

the bottoms of the'I-beams. Notches b are cut out of the upper cornersof the webs, in which the lower flanges of the I-beams rest. TheT-iron'and web are connected between their ends by vertical struts orhangers b b and diagonal, braces 19 b 6 5 The web Z) is supported at itsends upon the lower flange of the I-beamsbymeans of short bars or platesb b and is supported from the T-iron by means of hangers b if. the websand immediately below the I-beams are secured angle-irons b", adapted tostiffen the webs and to form supports for a second or safety ceiling I,hereinafter described, the bottom edge'of the web b being far enoughUpon each side of below the angle-iron to produce a consider- 'ableair-space between the ceiling proper and the safety-ceiling. Thiscompletes the truss, and in the erection of the buildings these trussesare constructed at the most convenient place and taken to the buildingall ready to be slipped between the I-beams. The diiferent trusses arebraced one from another by means of bridging C after the trusse'sareplaced in position. The adjacent ends of the T-irons and webs arepreferably connected by plates or stout wires b to strengthen thestructure.

The fioor is constructed by securing wire mesh D upon the tops of thetrusses, placing concrete E and furring-strips F upon the wire mesh D,and securing the floor in the ordinary manner to the furring-strips.

In the construction of the ceiling the ordinary wire lath G is securedto the webs b of the trusses and plaster H applied to the wire lath inthe usual manner, and in addition thereto a second or safety ceiling I,consisting of what are known as plaster-boards, is laid upon thehorizontal flanges of the angleirons b". This plaster-board ispreferably provided with a tongue and groove to make a tight ceiling,and as it can be slipped beneath the I-beams it assists in thoroughlyisolating the latter from the heat of the fire.

This construction while containing all of the fire-resistin g qualitiesof the heavier con' structions has only a fraction of the weight of thelatter and is much cheaper, not only in its own cost, but also in thesaving it effects in the necessary strength of other portions of thestructure, due to the relief thereb bft-t nsy semem ersz upp e by offrom the. immense weight of the ordinary fireproof floors. Thehorizontal flanges of the lower T-irons separate the two portions of thedouble ceiling, leaving an air-space between the same, which protectsthe upper ceiling and the parts above it until the'lower is completelyburned away. To further protect thefnrring-strips .F from fire, asbestoslinings may be placed beneath them, as seen at O in Fig. 1. it

The particnlar reconstruction .herein described in detail may beVariedgreatly without departing from myiinvention' andel do nottherefore limit myself to its specific detailsexceptso far as the samemay be essential to thc same. a. r l

1, claim as new and desire to secure by Leta-i W a 1,; r v. "-"w e b iding construct on, t e

h. hr ri s -hqr zqnta -iflc mhe f;a, 1

Qfl-a r ew i sse spapnimg hQill fili al etw enr. aid; b ms mmpos rlto con t pp and low r-lon inal. 1 9mbem r men fi whi es tupo rt ietep ct thedh eams andthelettr arearm ged hepea h the. onnect ng slexi ealhet ewgth.19w rr ber ran it tqsuppo s id eaermem e sl fr mab d ipab t en th tr s1 the dp t e ,e ra-c ing supported from the, bottoms of the same;substantially n r beih rT e om mat oniwith;

meteor-b am ra sllh y na h ialow .des

nii nlane bel wrt tlet x, arce 6-,, belo @sa mem ers-L and, usp ilsi deherefr r d a leafle s-c ling carried; bblrfi lir members and,passing,below the flQOlT-gbflfllilS atsome distance above the ceiling firstmentioned.

this

3. In abiiilding construction, the combina= tion with a series ofI-beams, floor-supporting members, resting upon the top of said I-beams,ceiling supporting members sup: ported against the b ottom faces of theI-beams, hanger-sit, b, connecting the floor-supporting members andceilingsupporting members a d arra djacen ot aid, Lb am and the bars", bb secured to the ceiling-sup-' porting members, and resting upon thelower flanges of the I-beams; substantially as described.

-, 4. The combination with a series of I-beams, A, of a series oftransversely extending trusses, mprisin A u s antiallyi -ir ns, b,restinann ethe tens 9f the L-br emsr W .lzfmxte siip he p; heestablish-aqua bi, s mu'edJipQasai r d inafl, conn nterm diate; Q l lisPM scs ired o. he lever d r rthe Webs,

a seconsli nrsatetyre 11mg l'Q$P lP0n,I horizontal flanges of theangle-irons; subed esaml ase cm icei ie restin e'p tile witnes er q iynaeateise my hand, at lq c g n, me qqun y t .06 1; n

State of Illinois, this 8th day of May, A. D.

1899. l :1. ,L L:

TIMOTHY OSHEA.

Witnesses t L 4 M: 1G" IEN:

CHAS. O. SHERVEY.

a gsgme distance above the ceilingfirst men-

